I am really pleased to be here
at this breakfast this year to celebrate World Autism
Awareness Day.

And I want to mihi to all our
parliamentary colleagues. It is so wonderful to see that
you have all come today because this is such a significant
issue and one that we should be really aware of to
understand and to be sure that we progress the issues on
behalf of people living with autism.

I particularly
want to acknowledge the Chief Executive, Dane Dougan, and
Chairperson, Glenys Fry for your contribution to Autism New
Zealand and for your kind invitation to be part of this
event today.

Glenys has been an amazing advocate for
this organisation and I want to thank you Glenys for all the
effort that you have put in, for ensuring that those of us
who are part of Government understand and know the things we
are meant to be doing so I do want to thank you for that.

Breakfast, as they say, is the most important meal of the
day – a message expressed in the immortal words of A. A
Milne.

When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said
Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to
yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you
say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen
exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.

I hope today our
breakfast has that same sense of sustenance and excitement
as we share together the evolving world of autism.

World Autism Awareness Day reminds us all that increasing
numbers of people in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the
world are being diagnosed with autism.

And I want to
particularly mention the impact on the justice system for
not being diagnosed – for these issues not to be taken
note of prior to appearance in court.

And I am sad to
hear this morning from Judge John Walker about the report
coming out from England ‘Nobody made the connection: the
prevalence of neuro-disability in young people who
offend,’ and I’m sure that will be replicated here in
New Zealand.

Each new diagnosis provides us with the
opportunity to recognise that every single person has the
right to realise their potential.

And from the outset
I want to acknowledge the very practical work being
undertaken by Autism New Zealand to promote and advocate for
the rights of New Zealanders with autism, and for their full
participation in society.

So what exciting thing is
going to happen today? There’s a few things that I want
to highlight that I believe can enhance the lived experience
of New Zealanders with autism.

Last week we announced
some good news in the additional investment of $43 million
over four years to ensure that people with autism now have
the same access across the country.

Up until now, some
people with autism received support such as supported
living, respite and caring support – and some didn’t.

I’m really thrilled that we’re no longer being
selective in terms of realising potential – recognising
that indeed everyone should be enabled to live a good
life.

And of course ‘realising potential’ is a
lifelong goal.

We’ve been putting considerable focus
into achieving a fully inclusive education system right from
the early year of life. There are some innovative
programmes created from the Ministries of Education and
Health to support children with autism in their learning at
school.

The first initiative is simply called tips for
autism - it is a workshop for families, educators and
specialists supporting students with Autism Spectrum
disorder.

The second is investment in Autism Spectrum
Disorder Plus which is a programme for families of young,
newly diagnosed children.

Another idea is the pilot
programme, Tilting the seesaw.

Whoever thought of the
seesaw concept is a genius. If you think about it, the
idea of a seesaw is that whenever one goes down, there is
always someone at the other end to lift you up again.

Tilting the seesaw is the prescription for an inclusive
New Zealand – it is about supporting and valuing autistic
people so that they can enjoy the same rights of citizenship
as all other New Zealanders.

In practical effect,
Tilting the Seesaw is also about supporting teachers and
teacher aides through practical strategies, to involve
autistic children more actively in classroom activities.

In keeping with the theme of supporting autistic people
to enjoy a greater sense of independence, I want to also
share three of the shared result areas which Ministers
agreed to earlier this week in the new Disability Action
Plan:

· Transforming the disability support
system

· Increasing education and employment
opportunities

· And ensuring personal safety

In reference to this last area, I am aware of course
about the recent concerns about the safety of some autistic
people in government funded care facilities.

I want to
say, I have no tolerance for abuse or neglect of any scale.

I am absolutely determined that we must do all we can
to support autistic people to fully participate, learn and
achieve in whatever setting they find themselves.

And
in that light I want to just share my utter enthusiasm for
the Enabling Good Lives approach.

For too many
generations, the capacities of people living with
disabilities have been over-looked; their abilities
under-estimated.

Enabling Good Lives seeks to ensure
that disabled persons have greater choice and control over
their lives, and are able to access the supports they need
to live a great life, as and when they require.

It is
like the Seesaw scenario. Promoting and advocating for
positive attitudes around the rights and inclusion of people
with autism is actually great for our community.

Hope
becomes the motivation that enables our nation to grow, to
thrive and to be a stronger, more diverse land because of
it.

And so I come back to Piglet’s question – what
exciting thing is going to happen today?

As prevalence
of autism continues to rise, we must come together, to turn
awareness into action which addresses the needs of those
with autism.

By the turnout on this breakfast alone
and by looking at the talents and enthusiasm of those around
this room, I believe we have every reason for hope. You
can all be a candle for hope, and I ask you all to light
that candle in the interests of people with autism.

I
hope you have space during your time together this morning
in this wonderful moment of learning and understanding more
about autism to share some of your reasons for being here,
and even more so, to find ways in which you connect with
others next to you.

For that is the pathway into our
future – coming together to listen and learn from one
another and to connect in a way which appreciates the value
of a truly inclusive society.

Key’s endorsement of English has turned this “contest” into a race for second place.

This succession was well planned. Lets not forget that English was told by Key in September of his intention to resign, and English was the only member of Cabinet entrusted with that information before it was sprung on everyone else on Monday morning. More>>

Latest: Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman have withdrawn from the leadership race, leaving Bill English the only candidate to replace John Key as Prime Minister.

The New Zealand Dental Association is launching a new consensus statement on Sugary Drinks endorsed by key health organisations. The actions seek to reduce harm caused by sugary drinks consumption. More>>

The Government Communications Security Bureau wants to give internet service providers more information and power to block cyber threats which are increasing, its director told the intelligence and security select committee yesterday.. More>>

ALSO:

Labour: NCEA results for charter schools have been massively overstated... In one case a school reported a 93.3 per cent pass rate when the facts show only 6.7 per cent of leavers achieved NCEA level two. More>>

Following a complaint by Mr Leask, the Ombudsman found that the State Services Commission acted unreasonably in relation to Mr Leask and identified numerous deficiencies in the investigation process and in the publication of the final report and in the criticisms it contained of Mr Leask... More>>

NZEI: New Zealand had only held relatively steady in international rankings in some areas because the average achievement for several other OECD countries had lowered the OECD average -- not because our student achievement has improved. More>>

The resignation of John Key is one thing. The way that Key and his deputy Bill English have screwed the scrum on the leadership succession vote (due on December 12) is something else again. It remains to be seen whether the party caucus – ie, the ambitious likes of Steven Joyce, Judith Collins, Paula Bennett, and Amy Adams – will simply roll over... More>>